With more than three million implants worldwide, buttressing material improves patient outcomes by reducing potentially life-threatening complications that can occur after bariatric weight-loss procedures

NEWARK, Del. (November 12, 2018) – W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) is celebrating the 15th Anniversary of its GORE® SEAMGUARD® Bioabsorbable Staple Line Reinforcement, a synthetic buttressing material engineered to reduce leaks and bleeding in a variety of minimally-invasive weight loss procedures, including sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. The product is now available in 35 countries where more than three million devices have been implanted globally.

“During this anniversary, Gore is celebrating much more than 15 years since the first implant of GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement,” commented David Lane, Business Unit Leader, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. “We are celebrating 15 years of providing our physician partners and their patients with a reliable solution that is proven to reduce surgical complications and has the largest volume of clinical literature supporting superior patient outcomes. We are very proud that GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement continues to stand the test of time.”

GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement is engineered to reduce leaks. The material strengthens the staple line and inhibits bleeding by redistributing the pressure exerted by an individual staple over a wider surface area. There are more than 60 peer-reviewed clinical articles supporting the leak and bleeding reduction provided by GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement.

“I first heard about GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement just after I started performing sleeve gastrectomies in 2007, when one of my colleagues, Dr. Ninh Nguyen, past-president of the ASMBS, presented data on the decreased bleeding rate from stapling when using GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement,” recalled Jaime Ponce, MD, past-President of the ASMBS and Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at CHI Memorial Hospital, Chattanooga, TN. “Afterwards, we discussed the product in a meeting and I was motivated to try it. I used the product for the first time shortly after and my initial thoughts were that it was very effective at stopping the intraoperative oozing or annoying bleeding from staple line, as well as allowing me to see good staple formation and a dry field. After doing more research, I found that the GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement was supported by literature written by my bariatric peers from around the world, and this increased my trust in the product.”

“That GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement has remained unchanged for 15 years - a considerable achievement in today’s everchanging medical devices market – is a testament to the product’s safety and efficacy,” concluded Dr. Ponce.

GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement features a unique 3D matrix material that facilitates cell infiltration and ingrowth for tissue generation to promote healing.* It provides added strength to the staple line before being gradually and predictably absorbed within six to seven months, which eliminates the risk of a prolonged inflammatory response. By reducing post-operative leaks and bleeding, GORE SEAMGUARD Reinforcement may contribute to shorter hospital stays, decreased costs, and lower morbidity rates.

* For complete indications and other important safety information for Gore commercial products referenced herein, refer to the applicableInstructions for Use (IFU).

About Gore Medical

Gore engineers devices that treat a range of cardiovascular and other health conditions. With more than 40 million medical devices implanted over the course of more than 40 years, Gore builds on its legacy of improving patient outcomes through research, education and quality initiatives. Product performance, ease of use and quality of service provide sustainable cost savings for physicians, hospitals and insurers. Gore is joined in service with clinicians and through this collaboration we are improving lives. www.goremedical.com

About Gore

W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Founded in 1958, Gore has built a reputation for solving complex technical challenges in the most demanding environments — from revolutionizing the outerwear industry with GORE-TEX® fabric to creating medical devices that improve and save lives to enabling new levels of performance in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and mobile electronics markets, among other industries. The company is also known for its strong, team-oriented culture and global recognition from the Great Place to Work® Institute. Headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore employs approximately 9,500 Associates and generates annual revenues of $3.5 billion. www.gore.com

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